A Rise in School Test Scores

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and Michelle Rhee are set to announce that test scores are on the rise, with elementary and high school students improving in reading and math. Just how high much those numbers have jumped will have to wait until Fenty and Rhee offer details at 9 a.m. today.

But just what happened to produce the jump and who gets the credit, the current efforts of Rhee or those of former superintendent Clifford Janey?

How interesting! A rise in test scores considering how "Madam I Love to Fire People" has finished her latest public service of closing schools, restructuring schools and firing people, people with a whole lot more education and experience than she has as teachers, educational aides and administrators. Given her three whole years of teaching experience (where the teacher who taught with her cooperatively has never been recognized for their joint rise in test scores), perhaps Rhee should get the principals who are part of her new "army" to swat and eat bees in front of their staffs, get the teachers to murder and eat one of the mice or roaches running around DCPS that facilities has failed to abate and frighten the children into learning and then go from there in her own appearingly "Fly By the Seat of Her Jimmy Choo/Kate Spade Pump."
Why would the founder of a company designed to provide professional development and human resources services prefer to terminate people rather than expend the energy to train and develop people to do their jobs?! More than three years of experience would have taught her the value of investing in people rather than making snap judgments around a table with subjective votes on who is or is not liked.
If those around her had sufficient experience, education and expertise, they would be able to better advise and support Rhee. Thirty really is the new twenty in some circles because only in this circle could the second in command not possess a master's degree. Only in this circle is it professional to push everyone out without timely evaluations, progressive discipline and investing in people. Only in this circle is it professional for the majority of a chancellor's staff to clop around offices at central office in flip flops sneering at people and walking with noses so high in the air that a rainstorm would prove fatal.
Thirty's the new twenty, this mess is so sick ...

How does one justify for being dismissed...? Just last year this time she met with interim principals. She asked them how would they raise test scores...one responded by prayer. While others gave percentage points of 3 to 5 percent. She insisted that they were underestimating the kids. As her goals were of 10 to 15 percent and so the line in the sand was drawn. Okay the proof is in the pudding...the rise of test scores are at the high-school level are 9%...yet 5 african-american female principals were non-renewed. So, what side of the line does C-Rhee stand on...if 9% is for celebration...then what happen to her lofty goal of 10 to 15 percent...? Does one assume that the Mayor is telling her at this moment that her contract will not be renewed...? I shudder to laugh!!! One thing for sure if she takes the credit...WTU will make her pay dearly...and hopefully the CSO will make her eat her words too. Can one say a substantial raise in salary? Oooops, lets pray about it first.

Anyone who works in education knows that the test score increase are not the result of Rhee she came into the picture too late. It is accumulated results due to groundwork put into place by Janey, that Rhee added to. Let's give credit where credit is due - show some respect Fenty/Rhee.